Die schweigsame Frau premiered in 1935 and represents what is perhaps Strauss’s
most virtuosic and technically demanding score both for the orchestra and for
the soloists. This may also be one of the reasons why this turbulent masterpiece
is rarely performed today.

With a lavish wealth of musical ideas, and the juxtaposition of light comedy
against grand opera, Strauss quotes himself and a dozen other composers in this
work. He copies Rossini and spoofs Monteverdi – this is grand farcical fun!